People are shaming Kim Kardashian over North West's hair

North West recently showed off her new hairstyle while out with mom Kim Kardashian. (Photo: James Devaney/GC Images)

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Kanye and North out in Manhattan (Photo: Instarimages)

The mother-daughter duo were photographed by paparazzi as they hit up New York City ice cream shop CoolMess and candy superstore Dylan’s Candy Bar for an early celebration ahead of North’s fifth birthday on Friday.

The oldest West kid — whose dad is rapper Kanye West — typically wears her naturally curly hair in buns or braids. But on this occasion, her locks appeared to have undergone some sort of heat treatment to smooth out any waves. Critics claim she’s too young for that level of primping, which can damage hair.

The criticism may be about more than just hair damage, however. Much has been made of the pressures women of color face to treat their hair rather than wearing it naturally.

Others speculated that North was wearing hair extensions, while some just loved the sleek and sassy look. Ultimately, it’s Kardashian’s call on how to style her daughter’s hair — but she probably knows better than most that billions of eyes are on her, ready to admire, or to judge.